ArmenPress
Nov. 1, 2004
VARDASHEN PRISON BROUGHT IN COMPLIANCE WITH EUROPEAN STANDARDS, JUSTICE
MINISTER SAYS
YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 1, ARMENPRESS: The Vardashen prison in a Yerevan
outskirts, called in official documents “criminal-executive
institution” has undergone an extensive overhaul and now complies with
European standards. The Vardashen prison is for former law enforcement
bodies, sentenced to various terms for different crimes.
Armenian justice minister Davit Harutunian visited the prison last
Friday and expressed his satisfaction with the completed work. He said
it was the first time ever such a massive work was conducted to meet
international standards as required by the Council of Europe.
The minister said different regimes will be established in the
prison-so-called open, semi-open, close and semi-closed. The semi-open
regime, for example, allows the convicts to have the opportunity to
freely move within the prison during the whole day.
Restrictions are harsher in close and semi-close regimes. The
convicts have the right to move only at certain hours. At present, the
criminal-executive institution of Artik is also undergoing a
reconstruction. Harutunian said conditions must be established in order
to keep the “mind and the hands of convicts busy” as the work therapy
is part of the rehabilitation.
